BenWickes wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 3:40 pm

Arsene Wenger on Maitland Niles

'I believe he is the future. He can play left back, right back, central midfield. Of the three positions, maybe the least natural for him is left back, but he adapts very quickly and is a good defender.

"He has that sense of one against one, he is very strong, he is very quick, he has very quick recovery runs when he comes back.'

I dont think he did much for WBA, think they want shut of him these days to free up some money

Superjohnnyfrancis wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 3:46 pm

I dont think he did much for WBA, think they want shut of him these days to free up some money

Thrown into a crap situation at WBA to be fair to him.

DCWat wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 3:35 pm

You’re over playing the central midfield issue, though I agree it’s an area that does need improvement.

Right wing is our weakest position in the squad, simply based on the fact that we don’t have a right winger.

Personally, I’d rate Cork above Westwood. I think that the criticisms of him are harsh - he’s easily our most intelligent midfield player and possibly, the best footballing brain in our entire squad. His ability is being written off all too quickly.

I agree with most of what you say and I too think Cork is the most intelligent out of the midfield. However it looks as though his legs are on the way out and the more he picks up injury's the worse he will become. I don't think he has long left at this level. Westwood is now the pick of the bunch for me and while he has been fantastic for us the past couple of seasons, in a way, he is too much of an all around player (It's harsh to say but he's a jack of all trades, master of none) We need upgrades.
I agree a right winger is certainly the main priority though.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 3:48 pm

Thrown into a crap situation at WBA to be fair to him.

Yes thats fair although I've never seen him play execptional even for Arsenal. Seems hes just fallen short of the top level.

Superjohnnyfrancis wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 3:58 pm

Yes thats fair although I've never seen him play execptional even for Arsenal. Seems hes just fallen short of the top level.

So have Arsenal in recent years

He looked good for West Brom when I saw him play. Perfect player for us given how versatile he is. However Nixon responded yesterday saying Arsenal want £20m so that rules us out - no chance we drop £20m on one player.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 3:59 pm

He looked good for West Brom when I saw him play. Perfect player for us given how versatile he is. However Nixon responded yesterday saying Arsenal want £20m so that rules us out - no chance we drop £20m on one player.

Why not?
Apparently we could end up breaking our transfer record on Collins if the add-ons are paid out, which last I checked was what we paid for Wood at £15 million.
£20 isn't much of a stretch

https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/t ... e-21130373

Dyche on the transfer market so far: “We need to pad it out a little bit.

“We need a bit more quality in certain areas and we certainly need bodies in because we are a bit short.”

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 4:08 pm

https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/t ... e-21130373

Dyche on the transfer market so far: “We need to pad it out a little bit.

“We need a bit more quality in certain areas and we certainly need bodies in because we are a bit short.”

He's been saying that for about 4 years now

randomclaret2 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 4:13 pm

He's been saying that for about 4 years now

same as all of us

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 4:08 pm

https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/t ... e-21130373

Dyche on the transfer market so far: “We need to pad it out a little bit.

“We need a bit more quality in certain areas and we certainly need bodies in because we are a bit short.”

Could this be why he's not yet penned a new contract? And yes we can all see that we need at least a couple more over the line.

‘Need to pad it out a bit’ may mean a few more U23 signings and that could be us. UTC

tiger76 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 4:27 pm

Could this be why he's not yet penned a new contract? And yes we can all see that we need at least a couple more over the line.

I am convinced he won’t sign anything until he sees what state his squad is in come the end of the window.

Interesting insight.

Doesn't sound like much is close, or has changed financially in terms of how we can effect the market. Some will be happy that ALK are operating sensibly, as am I really, but phrases like "bodies", "pad it out a bit", and "first in, first out" doesn't fill me with confidence that we are really looking at the type of player that can push us on.

NewClaret wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 4:47 pm

Interesting insight.

Doesn't sound like much is close, or has changed financially in terms of how we can effect the market. Some will be happy that ALK are operating sensibly, as am I really, but phrases like "bodies", "pad it out a bit", and "first in, first out" doesn't fill me with confidence that we are really looking at the type of player that can push us on.

To be fair, you’ve missed the ‘more quality in certain areas’ element.

"We need to pad it out a little bit" and "We need a bit more quality" are different ends of the spectrum.

Sounds as though Sean would like to see several more additions, including some upgrading in certain areas of the pitch.

Here's another missed opportunity for us to sign a half way decent wide player
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57827831

I note that Brentford have today signed a dynamic young midfield player from Chelsea, who drives forward with the ball and can deliver assists and score goals. Obviously Brentford like his stats and profile.

Evidently not on our radar.

Does Sean know what his budget is this summer ?

He certainly bleated about not knowing it enough in the past

"I'm used to working like that so we will see what the market brings"

He's even bought into the american ethos when describing the transfer market as "draft picks"

Amazing how new owners have changed his attitude

kentonclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:12 pm

I note that Brentford have today signed a dynamic young midfield player from Chelsea, who drives forward with the ball and can deliver assists and score goals. Obviously Brentford like his stats and profile.

Evidently not on our radar.

sounds just like Josh McEachran who actually played for the first team and everybody thought was going to be a top player, did well, then signed for Brentford and is now playing at MK Dons.......

It will be interesting to see how many fans will be in the ALK out camp if we don’t strengthen this window.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:28 pm

It will be interesting to see how many fans will be in the ALK out camp if we don’t strengthen this window.

Collins is a superb bit of business.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:28 pm

It will be interesting to see how many fans will be in the ALK out camp if we don’t strengthen this window.

other than a worldwide pandemic affecting income they've no excuse

PremierLeagueClass wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:29 pm

Collins is a superb bit of business.

Maybe, time will tell.

But does he actually strengthen our First XI or will he be sitting on the sidelines awaiting an opportunity?

Seen that Matheus Pereira has been frozen out of West Brom’s pre season while he looks for a move. Surprised he’s not been snapped up yet he really impressed me last season.

He would be an excellent addition at a fee which doesn’t seem out of reach, but is he a ‘Dyche type’?

kentonclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:12 pm

I note that Brentford have today signed a dynamic young midfield player from Chelsea, who drives forward with the ball and can deliver assists and score goals. Obviously Brentford like his stats and profile.

Evidently not on our radar.

I've never heard of the lad until today.
Will be interesting to see how he develops.

kentonclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:35 pm

Maybe, time will tell.

But does he actually strengthen our First XI or will he be sitting on the sidelines awaiting an opportunity?

We’re at a point now where it’s extremely difficult to buy a player that can immediately strengthen the first XI, unless it’s someone like Ashley Young, coming to the end of their career. Collins is someone that can definitely strengthen the first team in the not too distant future.

Our strongest XI is a solid Premier League team more than capable of survival, a winger should be the main priority and evidence suggests that is what we’re targeting. After that, anything else is a bonus.

The major negative with our midfield is the lack of goals. They are all average PL players, including Brownhill. Somebody has to be given the freedom to get up and beyond our front two.
I live in hope.

minnieclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:50 pm

The major negative with our midfield is the lack of goals. They are all average PL players, including Brownhill. Somebody has to be given the freedom to get up and beyond our front two.
I live in hope.

Even if it means we ship more goals as a result?

And you say average PL players like it’s a bad thing. We’re not competing for the title.

PremierLeagueClass wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:52 pm

And you say average PL players like it’s a bad thing.

I didn’t. It was in response to all the negative crap higher up. They are fine if not exciting.
You are correct about possibly conceding more but we’ll never know unless we try.

Just on Nathan Collins. Every Stoke fan I've spoken to have absolutely raved about him and they are seriously gutted they had to sell him.

kentonclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:12 pm

I note that Brentford have today signed a dynamic young midfield player from Chelsea, who drives forward with the ball and can deliver assists and score goals. Obviously Brentford like his stats and profile.

Evidently not on our radar.

Hopefully they sign a few more who go straight into their first team. That never ends well.

jojomk1 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:25 pm

Does Sean know what his budget is this summer ?

He certainly bleated about not knowing it enough in the past

"I'm used to working like that so we will see what the market brings"

He's even bought into the american ethos when describing the transfer market as "draft picks"

Amazing how new owners have changed his attitude

It probably helps that the new owners have seen fit to fork out a fair wad for Collins who's highly-rated, compared to last summer when we had to make do with Dale Stephens as our sole capture for a knockdown fee because Brighton wanted him off their books.

Rather a contrast between the 2 windows don't you think, and there appears to be a genuine desire to strengthen the squad, just look at the amount of players we're being linked with, now some of those could be tenuous, but some do appear to have solid evidence to support them, it doesn't mean that we'll sign everybody we're chasing, but the mindset is completely different this summer in stark contrast to only 12 months ago under Garlick's stewardship.

Our intent is clearly there and I'm very happy with the ones we have got over the line in Collins and with Hennessey, assuming at least one of our other back up goalies is either loaned out or sold. BUT, for all our intent, those two signings won't be enough and we have to turn our intent into something more concrete for the window to look like a success imo. If we don't, all our good intentions will still not amount to whole lot more than last year did. Further up it was suggested that we had a whole team of bang average PL quality players (when all fit) and that bang average is easily good enough to stay up. We have to see that those bang average players are increasingly finding it hard to keep up and perform out of their skins week in week out. Cork being a great example. Clearly he's a PL quality player and clearly he has an excellent footballing brain, but increasingly the legs are letting him down and that's what we have to address. Not with intent, but with actual signings.

Get the strategic signings right, for the areas we are weak in, then with SD at the helm for me its almost guaranteeing our PL status for another season. Hopefully we will take a different stance on loans this season-other clubs have left us behind, but early signs and rumours are very promising

You could get Messi on loan and SD wouldn’t play him.

kentonclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:12 pm

I note that Brentford have today signed a dynamic young midfield player from Chelsea, who drives forward with the ball and can deliver assists and score goals. Obviously Brentford like his stats and profile.

Evidently not on our radar.

Hilarious that you've copied and pasted Frank's quote and used it as your description of a player you'd probably never heard of this morning.

We are clearly trying, maybe this is Dyche just implying to the owners that they may have to increase their bids ever so slightly to get a few over the line?

If we can get one specialised winger in alongside for example Maitland Niles who can play both out wide and in the middle then if be happy with that until the opportunity arises for another specialised winger possibly in January , and Maitland Niles could then be moved central, £20m is a big outlay for us but if we want to play with the big boys we may have to do it occasionally

This is it boys, it's over. There are no more signings to be made. The cupboard is bare as is our squad.

Make peace with it and enjoy being back on the Turf for 2021/22.

Source: My own brain.

AfloatinClaret wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 4:55 pm

Here's another missed opportunity for us to sign a half way decent wide player
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57827831

We are so tuppence-h'appeny it makes me sick...

Harry Wilson gone to Fulham too hasn't he? We were after him when we signed Stephens.

tiger76 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 6:09 pm

It probably helps that the new owners have seen fit to fork out a fair wad for Collins who's highly-rated, compared to last summer when we had to make do with Dale Stephens as our sole capture for a knockdown fee because Brighton wanted him off their books.

Rather a contrast between the 2 windows don't you think, and there appears to be a genuine desire to strengthen the squad, just look at the amount of players we're being linked with, now some of those could be tenuous, but some do appear to have solid evidence to support them, it doesn't mean that we'll sign everybody we're chasing, but the mindset is completely different this summer in stark contrast to only 12 months ago under Garlick's stewardship.

Well, you could see it differently.
Dunne and Gibson out for fees and Collins in for a bit more than we've recouped, so the squad is actually smaller.

ClaretAndJew wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 7:22 pm

Harry Wilson gone to Fulham too hasn't he? We were after him when we signed Stephens.

Going for £10m apparently, and he was a target of our former chairman not the manager. If he is going for £10m then it makes Cornet at £11-£13m seem cheap in my opinion

I would go all in for Dan James as he gives you something different and an out ball, we are so one paced at the moment it is unreal.

We are going to need to spend big eventually otherwise we will get left behind, we are playing catch up as it is.

Could work really well with Vydra's movement and Wood up front.

I accept that after umpteen previous windows, where we’ve been told to wait, be patient and to judge at the end of the window, it may be wearing thin.

However, this is a clean slate for a new regime.
Now, more so than in recent windows, really is the time to judge when the window closes.

I still remain confident that we will strengthen in a couple more areas, as a minimum.

Time will tell!!

Nixon

So nothing has changed then.

box_of_frogs wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 6:48 pm

You could get Messi on loan and SD wouldn’t play him.

No chance he'd get in ahead of Ashely Barnes if fit. Just can't hold the ball up the same.

Cornet would be a very good signing. A marquee player for us really given his reputation as a good young player. His ability to play left back suggests he has the defensive ability to fit our system very well.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:40 pm

Seen that Matheus Pereira has been frozen out of West Brom’s pre season while he looks for a move. Surprised he’s not been snapped up yet he really impressed me last season.

He would be an excellent addition at a fee which doesn’t seem out of reach, but is he a ‘Dyche type’?

Would be my #1 choice.

I was a huge fan of Buendia last summer but I’m a bigger fan of his. Would be genuinely transformational for our team, I think.

Sadly, WHU, Leeds and Leicester all heavily linked so we stand no chance. I imagine he is very much in the “first draft picks” category that SD said today we can’t attain.